Washing machine



Dec. l, 194,2. Q B D BLAKE I l2,303,979

WASHING MACHINE Filed sept. 5, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l 1, 1942. D. 1 3. D. BLAKE 2,303,979

` i I WASHING' MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 'a//o/"f W6/ff( rs/j/m/ff@ gw, Amma, v am 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 1, 1942. D. B. D. BLAKE WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1939 Dec@ 1, 1942.

D. B. D. BLAKE wAsHINQMAcHINE Filed s ept. 5, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Dc. r1, 1942.

D. B. D. BLAKE WASHING MACHINE Filed sept. u5, 1959 6 'sheets-sheer 5 Dec. 1, 1942. D. B. D. BLAKE K WASHING MACHINE Filed sept. 5, 1939 e sheets-sheet e Patented Dee. 1, 1942 UNITI-:Dk

wasmNG MACHINE Dennis n. n. Blake, Danville. nl. application september s. i939, sei-iai No. 293,316 1 claim. (ci. ca -54) My invention relates to awashing machine which is characterized by an improved agitating arrangement and driving mechanism therefor,

and which washes and dries in the same container.

In present type washing machines, wringing of the clothes' iscustomarily accomplished either by manually feeding the separate washed pieces through a roll -wringer, or manually transferring the washed pieces to a separate spinner type of wringer, or by spin drying the pieces in the same container in which they are washed. The first two types require an objectionable han. dling of the separate pieces, while in the lastnoted type, it is necessary to draw or even waste tilt? suds or other cleansing liquid from the mac ne.

It is, therefore, one object of my invention to provide a washing machine in which a succession of batches of pieces may be washed and spun damp dry in the same container without necessitating the withdrawal or loss of the suds.

A further obiect'is to devise a washing machine in which the detergent action is eilected by agitating devices which periodically reverse vthe movement of the pieces beingwashed and directs masses of suds along opposite sides o! and through the pieces.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character indicated having cooperating asitating devices which creates a suds turbulenceI that tumbles and shifts the pieces to and iro in the suds and substantially free of contact with the enclosing basket.

A further object is to devise a ,washing machine of the vertical axis type in which the movements of oppositely acting groups of ,agitating blades are arranged to compensate for the diiference in their radial distancesfrom the axis of the machine. thus insuring that the respective bladeswillmove with equal speed.

These and further objects of my invention` will be set forth in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the novel means by which said objects y are eflectuated will be denitely pointed out in the claim. l

In the drawings:

ing the relation of the inner and outer agitating blades.

Figs. 5 and 6 are ,sections along the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, in Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows, and showing a portion of the driving mechanism for the two sets of agitating blades.

Fig. 'I is an enlarged section along the line 1--1 in liig.y 1, looking in the direction 0f the arrows, and showing a.v portion of ythe agitating blades driving mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section along the line4 8 6 in Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, sectional elevation of lower portion of the machine, as viewed in Fig. l? showing the clutch which transmits the drive to the washing devices of the machine and also the mechanism for thereafter elevating the basket to spinning position. l

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the clutch illustrated in Fig. 9 in disengaged position.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a casing that may be supported by. the usual casters Il and which has secured to the interior thereof at a convenient distance above the floor a plurality of brackets l2 that are spaced around the casing. 'I'hese brackas a support for a portion of the driving mechanism of the machine, as hereinafter described. To this end, a main drive motor I6 is carried by a bracket n that is in turn bolted to the Strut i6' and to the shaft of the motor is'secured a pulley I8 having dual grooves (see Fig. 6).

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved washing machine showing in washing position the basket for receiving the pieces to be washed.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the basket in elevated or spinning position for centriiugally extracting the the pieces.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged sectional elevation of the central portion of the basket and the inner agitating blades.

Fig. 4 isa section along the linee-d in Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showf liquid from A belt i9 operates in one of these grooves and also around a pulley`20 that is fast on the shaft i 'f ofa worm 2i (see Fig. l) that is journaled inv a housing 22 secured to the underside of the strut l5. The worm 2l meshes with a worm gear23 that is secured to a shaft 24 and this shaft extends upwardly through the strut I5 and is fixed' to a crank arm 25 that rotates in a horizontal plane.

'I'he free endof the crank 25 is pivotally con` nected to an L-shaped yoke 26 having a pair;-

otally connected to one end of a link 28 that extends across the machine just above the strut l5 and'has its opposite end pivotally lattached of arms 2 and 28 (Fig. 6). The arm 2l is pivto a rock arm 30 that is fast on a sleeve 3l'- that is amally aligned with the tub i3.

Referring to Fig. 9, the' upper end of the sleeve- 3| has secured thereto a vange 32 having a axial alignment with the short sleeve 44.

- through the bottom of the tub I3 in coaxial relation thereto and is journaled in a concentric sleeve 31 whose lower end is mounted in the bottom ofthe tub. At its upper end the sleeve 35 is keyed to the upper end of the concentric sleeve 38l that extends downwardly and surrounds the sleeve 31, but is spaced therefrom, and at its lower end is provided with an annular flange 39 that is secured to the bottom of a cylindrical basket 40 whose bottom and peripheral wall may be perforated inthe usual manner. Only a few of these perforations are illustrated. The peripheral'wall of the basket (see Figs. 1 and 4) is provided with a plurality of equispaced, radially disposed blades 4| which constitute an outer group of agitating devices.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the other yoke arm 28 is'pivotally connected to one end of a link 42 whose opposite end is pivotally secured to the free end of a rock arm 43 that is keyed to a short sleeve 44 located within the sleeve 3| in concentric relation thereto but whose lower end extends below the last noted sleeve. As indicated in Fig. 6, the links 29 and 42- are disposed on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the machine. The upper end of the sleeve 44 has secured thereto a flange 45 which seats within a suitable recess provided in the flange 32 (see Fig. 9). A plurality of circumferentially spaced 'apertures 46 is provided in the iiange 45 to receive the projecting ends of drive pins 41 that are iixed in a cooperating ilange 48 which seats in a corresponding recess in the flange 35.

'Ihe flange 48 is secured to the lower end of a;

sleeve 49 that is located Within the sleeve 36 in concentric relation thereto and which is in The anges 45 yand 48, together with the driving pins 41, constitute a clutch for transmitting the drive to a group of inner .agitators as presently described. I

The upper end of the sleeve 49 is journaled in the sleeve 36 and beyond this point, the sleeve 49 is keyed to a hub sleeve 50 that surrounds and is partly journaled on the sleeve 38. A plurality of radially disposed and equispaced blades and 52-` are secured to the sleeve 50 and while these blades may possess any desired configuration and any dimensions, they are shown as short blades 5| and long blades 52 which are alternately disposed around the sleeve 50.

Stability of the foregoing concentric sleeve construction is maintained by a guidepost 53 which ts within the sleeve 49 and extends for substantially the full length thereof. The lower end of the post 53 seats within a pocket formed in a cap 54 that is secured to the strut I5 andv endwise movement of the post is prevented by a setscrew 55 mounted in the cap 54 and having its end fitting Within an annular groove 56 formed on the lower end of the post.

The foregoing completes the description of the various portions of the machine so far as its washing function is concerned and, in describi going periodic reversals of movement.

'ing the operation of the machine'during washing it will be understood that, due to the link connection between the yoke 20 and rock arm 33, the rotary movement ot the crank arm 24 im-A parts an oscillatory movement to the arm 3! and consequently to the basket 43. A similar oscillatory movement, but in an opposite direction, is imparted to the central or inner group of agitating blades by reason of the link connection between the yoke and rock arm 43.

During the washing operation, the blades 5| and 52 act to propel the cleaning liquid and the pieces being washed toward the wall of the basket, while the blades 4| exert a contrary. action. Accordingly, the pieces are prevented from either collecting at the' wall of the basket or from being-impacted and .balled together against the blade hub Il. In eect, the pieces are maintained in the cleaning liquid between the-basket wall and the blade hub while under- At the same time, the pieces are subjected'to the highly l effective .scrubbing action oi' the liquid created by the opposite oscillatory movements of the blades 5| and l2, and 4|. These movements not only direct the masses of .the cleaning liquid along opposite sides of any piece of goods, but also directly through thesepieces. The scrubbing action is further enhanced by the impact of masses of liquid moving in opposite directions. Insofar as it is possible to observe the movement of single pieces ot material during the washing operation, it is believed that each piece traverses a path generally having the form of the ngure 3. Since the pieces are not impacted against the basket wall or the sleeve hub 50, 4the washing action is free of any undue rubbing'action by the metallic walls of the basket or tub that would result in wear on the pieces.

The 'dual link driving connection between the crankarm 23 and the concentric sleeves which are respectively connected to the inner and outer groups ot agitating blades provides for a relative movement of the inner and outer blades that compensates for the greater radius of the Aouter group. In other words, if the angular movements of the two sets of blades were equal, then due to the greater radius of the outer group and the fact that the blade groups oscillatein equal times, the linear speed of the outer group would be greater than the inner group, and since this greater speed would be reflected in a greater thrust on the suda than that exerted by the inner blades, the suds agitated by the outer blades would tend to overcome the suds agitated by the central blades so that the pieces would tend to collect around the sleeve hub Il.

'I'he crank arm 2l is characterized by a fixed throw and, since the connecting links 23 and 42 are ofV ilxed length, then by suitablyarranging the lengthsY of tbe rock arms 3l and 43 and properly relating the areas of the outer and inner groups ot agitating blades, it is possible to 2% inches. then the blades 4| will oscillate through an arc of approximately 68 degrees,

while the blades I and 52 will act through an arc The diameter of the basket is about 231/2inches. y

The foregoing dimensions and angular movements are intended by way of example only and not limitation.

After the washing operation has been completed, the basket 40 is elevated to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, i. e., above the surface of the cleaning liquid in the tub I3, and the basket is thereafter rapidly rotated to centrifugally extract the liquid from the wet pieces in the basket.

A reversible motor 51 is journaled in a bracket 58 that depends from the underside of an upper, channel strut 59 that extends transversely of the machine and has `its ends fastened to the, side walls of the container I0 just below the tub I3. A pulley 60 is mounted on one end of the motor shaft and operating around this pulley is a belt 6I which also operates around a driven pulley 62 that is fast upon the shaft of a worm 53 that is journaled in a housing 64 attached to the underside of the lower strut I5. The worm 63 meshes with a worm gear 65 that is pinned or otherwise secured to'the lower end of a shaft 66 which extends upwardly through andis rotatably mounted in the lower strut I5. 'I'he upper end of the shaft 65 is journaled in a cap'61 provided on the upper strut 59, while the intermediate portion of the shaft 66 is formed as a screw 68. The screw portion of the shaft 66 extends for substantially the length thereof between the upper and lower struts and threaded thereon is a sleeve nut 69 from which extends laterally an arm that encircles the outer sleeve 36 (see Fig. 9).

The arm 10 is concentrically counterbored with respect to the sleeve 36, as indicated by the numeral 1 I, and seated in the recess so formed is the lower race of a thrust bearing 12. A clutch ring 13 provided with any desired number of teeth is secured to the sleeve 36 and seats upon the upper race of the bearing 12. Accordingly, when the nut 59 is moved upwardly toward the 12 engages the clutch ring 13 and correspondingly shifts the sleeve 36 in the same direction, but when the nut 69 occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 9, the sleeve 36 can rotate freely during the washing operation. l

A housing 14 is secured to the underside of the upper strut 59 in encircling relation to the sleeve 36 and a worm gear 15 having a hub 16 is journaled in the casing 14 in concentric relation to the sleeve. 36. A bearing 11 is interposed between the hub 16 and the sleeve 36 and serves to provide an intermediate support for the concentric sleeve structure that counteracts sidewise thrust. The hub 16 projects downwardly through the bottom of the casing 14 and is provided with a plurality of circumferentially diswashing operation, it also drives the worm gear mechanism encased within the housing 14, but this mechanism runs idly with respect to the sleeve 36 until the clutch ring 13 has been raised to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. i

The motor' I6 runs continuously during the washing and wringing operation, while the motor 51 operates only during the periods of raising and lowering the basket.

It will be understood that a suitable switch and electrical connections will be utilized with the motor I6 to insure its stopping'and starting at the proper time and other connections and a reversing switch with the reversible motor 51 for raising and lowering the basket. These connecl tions and switches, being well known in the art, and not forming any part of the present invention, have not been illustrated.

After the washing operation has been completed, the motor 51 is started rotating in the proper direction to initiate a movement of the nut 69 upwardly ,along the screw 68. This movement through the clutch ring 13 initiates an upward movement of thesleeve and a withdrawal of the driving pins 34 from the apertures in the clutch flange 32. Further, the upward movement of the sleeve 36 causes a simil:4 r movement of the sleeve hub 5I! and a withdrawal of the driving pins 41 from the apertures in the clutch flange 45. Therefore, shortly after the motor 51 begins rotating, the drive to the inner 4and outer groups of agitators is interrupted.

.The motor 51 continues to operate until the clutch ring 13 engages the teeth 18, whereupon the motor 51 is stopped and the basket 4I! is rotated rapidly by the motor I5 until the cleansing liquid is centrifugally extracted from the pieces in the basket and theV pieces are in a damp dry condition. Thereafter, the pieces can be ref moved from the basket and the motor 51 reversed to return the basket to the lower or washing position.

position illustrated in Fig. 2, the thrust bearing posed teeth 13 which are intended to engage with the similar teeth provided on the clutch ring 13 when the basket has been raised to spinning position. Y

The worm gear 15 meshes with a worm 19 and the end thereof projects through the housing 14 By spin wringing the pieces in the same basket in which the same are washed, all manual handling of the pieces between the washing and wringing operations is eliminated. Moreover,

' and this feature constitutes a very important aspect of my invention, it is possible to wash and wring successive batches of clothing without wasting the suds in the tub 3. For example,

successive batches of white, colored and more severely soiled pieces can be washed and damp wrung in successionin the machinel and the same suds employed to wash each batch.

I claim: In a washing machine, the combination of a basket for receiving the pieces to be washed,

means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the basket around the axis thereof, radial blades of substantial width carried by the peripheral wall of the basket for directing cleansing liquids and pieces inwardly of the basket when oscillated, a centrally disposed `agitator in the basket having radial blades of substantial width and of a larger` area than the basket blades for directing liquid and pieces toward the basket wall, and means for imparting a rotary oscillating movement to the agitator opposite to and of greater amplitude than the basket, the blades being so constructed and arranged relative to their respective amplitudes that the pieces are substantially maintained in Afthe'annfular space' between the blades during the washing operation.

DENNIS B. D. BLAKE. 

